Thai TikToker Condemns Reckless Foreign Drivers in Phuket

[snoop1130]

Photo via TikTok/ @ram_cream

 

A Thai man sparked a heated debate on TikTok after sharing footage of an incident involving foreign motorists in Phuket. In the video captured on 27th February, the Thai motorist spotlighted a collision between a foreign motorcyclist and a hatchback, both driven by foreigners. The clip, posted to the account @ram_cream, has stirred significant conversation, with many questioning the driving behaviour of tourists.

 

The video shows the hatchback making a U-turn, only to be struck by the motorcycle speeding down the left lane. The crash was forceful enough to lift the car's wheel off the ground, with the motorcyclist tumbling across the tarmac. Thankfully, both parties escaped with minor injuries.

 

Captioning his video, the TikToker criticised local officials for what he sees as a lack of regulation over foreign drivers. He questioned the absence of laws governing rental services that provide vehicles to tourists, often without valid licences, and urged restrictions on motorbike use for foreigners.

 

 

This post touched a nerve, prompting social media users to voice concerns about Thailand's visa-free entry scheme, alleging that it leads to behavioural issues by allowing too many foreigners to extend their stay. Some suggested reducing the maximum stay from 60 to 30 days to curb these issues.

 

These reactions reflect growing concerns over incidents involving foreign motorists, prompting calls for the government to tighten policies. As yet, officials have not responded to these claims, leaving many Thai citizens eager for reforms, reported The Thaiger,

 

 

-- 2025-02-28

 

 

[MikeandDow]

Ha Ha !!    The pot calling the kettle black !!

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, MikeandDow said:

Ha Ha !!    The pot calling the kettle black !!

 

IMO - a lot of decent Thai drivers out there who are considerate and careful. There are also a lot of Foreign drivers out there who are considerate and careful....

 

... both categories make up the majority of road users.

 

BUT... there is also a facet of each 'group' who drive and ride like reckless fools, they cause accidents and make the roads dangerous for everyone. 

 

Because there are 'more Thais' there are of course more dangerous Thai's on the roads. 

But, in area's of high tourist footfall such as Pattaya and Phuket, there may be proportionately more dangerous and reckless westerners.

 

 

In this example given...    It looks to me that a motorcyclist was riding quite recklessly at speed as he approached an obvious U-Turn....  he didn't slow down and take defensive action then realised it was too late. 

In this example, the car driver didn't care, it U-Turned 'forcing' the motorcyclist to 'give way'.

 

Both at fault IMO...  but this shows the careless actions of two people and the result. 

 

As with many accidents - had just once of the parties not been reckless, the accident would be avoided and I think thats why many of us have so many 'near misses' on a daily basis... We slow, take avoiding action, don't gamble on the actions of others etc... 

 

There is a great deal of stupidity on the roads - most people manage to avoid it by being very careful... 

 

 

[MikeandDow]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

IMO - a lot of decent Thai drivers out there who are considerate and careful. There are also a lot of Foreign drivers out there who are considerate and careful....

 

... both categories make up the majority of road users.

 

BUT... there is also a facet of each 'group' who drive and ride like reckless fools, they cause accidents and make the roads dangerous for everyone. 

 

Because there are 'more Thais' there are of course more dangerous Thai's on the roads. 

But, in area's of high tourist footfall such as Pattaya and Phuket, there may be proportionately more dangerous and reckless westerners.

 

 

In this example given...    It looks to me that a motorcyclist was riding quite recklessly at speed as he approached an obvious U-Turn....  he didn't slow down and take defensive action then realised it was too late. 

In this example, the car driver didn't care, it U-Turned 'forcing' the motorcyclist to 'give way'.

 

Both at fault IMO...  but this shows the careless actions of two people and the result. 

 

As with many accidents - had just once of the parties not been reckless, the accident would be avoided and I think thats why many of us have so many 'near misses' on a daily basis... We slow, take avoiding action, don't gamble on the actions of others etc... 

 

There is a great deal of stupidity on the roads - most people manage to avoid it by being very careful... 

 

 

Eloquent post !! but i would say the Thais have it  every day its in the news Thais are not the best drivers  seen worse !! but they are way down there, very poor driving skills not going to list the skills just they are bad !! life is cheap in Thailand

[ChipButty]

Personally, I think that accident could have avoided, that was a big bike on a wide open road, I see it many times where I live they just don't take their foot of the gas,

[JoePai]

9 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Personally, I think that accident could have avoided, that was a big bike on a wide open road, I see it many times where I live they just don't take their foot of the gas,

Thats strange, on my bike the gas(?) is a twist throttle on the handle bars

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, JoePai said:

20 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Personally, I think that accident could have avoided, that was a big bike on a wide open road, I see it many times where I live they just don't take their foot of the gas,

Thats strange, on my bike the gas(?) is a twist throttle on the handle bars

 

Being deliberately obtuse neither a humorous wise-arze or a smarty-pants makes..... 

 

An obvious 'colloquialism' for 'not want to hit the brakes'....     (and before you go at it... no, I don't actually mean physically hitting as in punching the brakes.....

 

Its a known driving trait here in Thailand.... Letting off the accelerator to slow down, or actively braking to allow someone else space or yield is the very very very last resort of so many drivers and riders....     its a deadly miscalculation of hubris and ego... 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

25 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Personally, I think that accident could have avoided, that was a big bike on a wide open road, I see it many times where I live they just don't take their foot of the gas,

 

Indeed...  all he had to do was apply the brakes approaching a junction...  even after the car U-Turned there was still time to apply the brakes.

 

That said - the U-Turning car, did so, either a) knowing the bike would be forced to slow (i.e. the driver forced their way out, as many do)... OR b) the driver simply didnt see the motorcycle... 

 

Either way, defensive riding from the motorcyclist would have prevented his incident and what were likely serious injuries - the rider was both reckless and stupid. 

[smedly]

he had zero chance of braking at that speed

[hotsun]

Boy the anti foreigner sentiment is a brewin

[Mr Meeseeks]

15 minutes ago, hotsun said:

Boy the anti foreigner sentiment is a brewin

 

Familiarity breeds contempt. 

[Aussie999]

17 hours ago, JoePai said:

Thats strange, on my bike the gas(?) is a twist throttle on the handle bars

Pedantic... Everyone knew what was meant

[CLW]

Has nothing to do with the current visa policies. It's rather up to the rental businesses and the police to conduct proper checks of valid driver licenses. Both for foreigners and Thais. 

[spidermike007]

Sorry but by being born in this country you have permanently revoked your right to criticize the driving habits of people from other nations. Thailand has some of the most reckless drivers on planet earth, and I'm constantly seeing people doing things with their entire families in the car, that put their lives and the lives of everyone and the car at risk (in addition to everyone else on the highway) when they could have simply waited three seconds and been completely safe. 

[Andre0720]

18 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Ha Ha !!    The pot calling the kettle black !!

Not so.

I seem to be cursing more foreigners on motorbikes than Thais lately.

Simply because so many foreigners, unlike Thais, like to ride these 350 c.c. or higher capacity.

Recklessness is normal here, for known reasons.

Foreigners are reckless while driving at greater speeds.

 

[NorthernRyland]

Thailand has fostered a culture of dangerous driving so it's their own fault. They should be looking inwards. Tourists know this is a country they can rent a large bike with no license and drive at any speed they want and more than likely can even get away with drinking and driving.

[MikeandDow]

9 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

Not so.

I seem to be cursing more foreigners on motorbikes than Thais lately.

Simply because so many foreigners, unlike Thais, like to ride these 350 c.c. or higher capacity.

Recklessness is normal here, for known reasons.

Foreigners are reckless while driving at greater speeds.

 

Thai can not Drive full stop cars or bike look at the news !! Every day !!!

[digger70]

Thai TikToker Condemns Reckless Foreign Drivers in Phuket.

 

Monkey See Monkey Do.

When in Thailand observe the Thais and than Drive/Ride  like the Thais .

Than the Thais have the hide to Complain That the foreigners Drive /Ride like Them.  🙏

[LivingNThailand]

I watched the video about 4 times.  The Big Bike guy was driving way too fast.  I see it every day in Phuket.  I am amazed that I don't see more accidents.  These big bike guys speed with the "pedal to the metal" weaving in and out of traffic without regard for other people on the road. You can go back and forth on the way Thais drive vs foreigners, but if someone / anyone is driving too fast with no consideration to the traffic flow then they are at fault.  Not some guy that is trying to make a U-turn.   It's a "I can do anything I want on holiday" mentality.  Very sad that nothing can be done about it.